xSemponium plant named ‘Diamond’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of x Semponium  plant named ‘Diamond’ that characterized by its compact, dense growth habit with short stems, its uniformly neat, conical growth habit, its large, strong rosettes with leaves that are spathulate-shaped and mucronate pointed tips, its showy flower heads that are firm and yellow in color, and its unique foliage coloration that is bright lime green with red margins (with sun exposure).

Botanical classification: xSemponium.

Variety denomination: ‘Diamond’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Community Plant VarietyOffice (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2022/2866 filed onDec. 7, 2022, under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which isincorporated by reference herein. This application is also related to aPlant Breeders' Rights application in The United Kingdom filed on Dec.21, 2022, Application No. 254-3, a U.S. Plant Patent for a plant derivedfrom the same breeding program that is entitled xSemponium Plant Named‘Sienna’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 34,201) and a U.S. Plant PatentApplication filed for a plant derived from the same breeding programthat is entitled xSemponium Plant Named ‘Destiny’ (U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No.18/110,002).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofxSemponium, an interspecific hybrid and referred to hereinafter by itscultivar name, ‘Diamond’. The new cultivar of xSemponium is a frosthardy succulent subshrub perennial grown for ornamental foliage use inlandscapes and containers.

The new cultivar arose from an ongoing breeding program by the Inventorin Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The goal of the breeding programwas to produce a new cultivar of xSemponium with unique foliagecoloration, a compact growth habit, a low growing dense and neat planthabit, and large rosettes.

The new cultivar arose from a cross made by the Inventor in 2015 betweenAeonium ‘Ice Warrior’ (not patented) as the female parent andSempervivum ciliosum ‘Green Ice’ (not patented) as the male parent. TheInventor selected ‘Diamond’ as a single unique plant amongst theseedlings that resulted from the above cross in 2016.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor by stem root cuttings in 2016 in Penzance, Cornwall, UnitedKingdom. Asexual propagation by stem root cuttings and offshoots hasdetermined the characteristics to be stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes incombination distinguish ‘Diamond’ as a unique cultivar of xSemponium.

-   -   1. ‘Diamond’ exhibits a compact, dense growth habit with short        stems.    -   2. ‘Diamond’ exhibits a uniformly neat, conical growth habit.    -   3. ‘Diamond’ exhibits large, strong rosettes with leaves that        are spathulate-shaped and mucronate pointed tips.    -   4. ‘Diamond’ exhibits showy flower heads that are firm and        yellow in color.    -   5. ‘Diamond’ exhibits unique foliage coloration that is bright        lime green with red margins (with sun exposure).

The female parent plant differs from ‘Diamond’ in having taller stems,fewer leaves per rosette, a plant habit that is less dense and compact,leaves that are broader in size with less pointed tips, foliage that isgreen with margins that are dusty purple in color and inflorescencesthat are less robust, less firm, and less open in stature. The maleparent plant differs from ‘Diamond’ in having foliage that is green incolor with no red margins, a smaller plant size, a less robust andflatter plant habit. ‘Diamond’ can be most closely compared to thexSemponium cultivars ‘Destiny’ and ‘Sienna’. ‘Destiny’ is similar to‘Diamond’ in having a low growing habit and large sized rosettes.‘Destiny’ differs from ‘Diamond’ in having leaves that are broader andlarger in size with less pointed tips, foliage that is dark green andpurple in color with veiny markings, and rosettes that are larger insize. ‘Sienna’ is similar to ‘Diamond’ in having a low growing habit.‘Sienna’ differs from ‘Diamond’ in having leaves that are longer andbroader in size with less pointed tips, a greater production of offsets,and foliage that is solid in color (no colored margins) and changesthroughout the year.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosures and/orsales that fall within a one-year grace period to the filing date.Disclosures include website listings by Surreal Succulents, RoyalHorticulture Society, YouTube, Thompson & Morgan, Visions Pictures, VanMeuwen, Dobies, Suttons, Twitter, Facebook, House Beautiful, Amazon,Flipkart, Tumblr, Plantipp, Cowell's Garden Centre, Instagram, Yahoo,Floral Daily, Gardens Illustrated, Exotic Plants, Gardening Express,Horticulture Week, Mandy Can U Dig It, Listen Notes, Cactus andSucculent Review, Pro Landscape Magazine, Press Reader, Matteoragni,bloom in business, cactus mania, Gabot, Falmouth Packet, Gartenpraxis,katakunabloom, sohu, Friedrich Strauss, floraviva, The InternationalCrassulaceae Network, floraxchange, Beyond the Garden Gates, varb, andtumpik.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new cultivar.

The photograph in FIG. 1 was taken of a plant 3 months in age as grownin a greenhouse in a 17-cm container in Waddinxveen, The Netherlands andprovides a close-up view of a rosette of ‘Diamond’ in fall.

The photograph in FIG. 2 was taken of a 3-year-old plant of ‘Diamond’ asplanted from a 5-liter container in Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdomand provides a view of ‘Diamond’ in bloom.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new xSemponium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observedon 18-month-old plants of ‘Diamond’ as grown in a greenhouse in 17-cmcontainers in Waddinxveen, The Netherlands with flowering data takenfrom 3-year-old plants as grown outdoors (April to October) and in anunheated polytunnel (November to March) in 5-liter containers inPenzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmentalconditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Plant type.—Evergreen succulent perennial.        -   Blooming period.—May through July in the United Kingdom.        -   Plant shape.—Conical.        -   Plant habit.—Compact, dense basal rosette with offsets            clustered around main rosette.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches up to 30 cm in height and width            as a mature plant.        -   Hardiness.—At least hardy to −5° C., has not been tested in            colder climates.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.        -   Root development.—Roots initiate in an average of 6 weeks            and fully root as a young plant in a P7 container in about 2            months.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Stem size.—1.8 cm in width and up to 1 cm in length.        -   Stem surface.—Smooth with leaf scars.        -   Stem arrangement.—Only 1 main stem.        -   Stem aspect.—Vertical.        -   Internode length.—Not applicable.        -   Stem color.—145C, scars 199A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Spathulate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 67 per rosette.        -   Leaf base.—Narrowly cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Round, mucronate.        -   Leaf venation.—No veins visible.        -   Leaf margins.—Ciliate.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Leaf orientation.—Flat to slightly concave, held in an            upward position.        -   Leaf substance.—Succulent.        -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces smooth and glossy.        -   Leaf color.—Young leaves; upper surface; tip 137A, center            137B, base 145A, lower surface 137D, base 145A, when mature            develops margins on the upper portion of the upper and lower            surfaces 60B in color (with sun exposure).        -   Leaf size.—Average of 9 cm in length and 1 cm in width.        -   Rosette size.—Average of 7 cm in height and 17 cm in width.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Dense, terminal cymes.        -   Inflorescence size.—20 cm in diameter, 15 cm in depth.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—6 to 8 weeks.        -   Flower type.—Perfect, spreading.        -   Flower number.—800 flowers per branched cyme.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower buds.—Oval in shape, about 6 mm length and 5 mm in            diameter, slightly pubescent, color; 145A, 145B and 145C.        -   Flower size.—About 1 cm in depth and 1.5 cm in diameter.        -   Peduncles.—Strong, round in shape, 145A in color, slightly            pubescent surface, primary; 10 cm in length and 2.5 cm in            diameter, secondary; 4 cm in length and 1 cm in diameter.        -   Pedicels.—Strong, round in shape, 1 cm in length and 3 mm in            diameter, 145A in color, slightly pubescent surface.        -   Sepals.—10 to 12, 3.5 mm in length and 1 mm in width, both            surfaces 145A in color, entire margins, acute apex, truncate            base, pubescent on both surfaces.        -   Petals.—10 to 12, 4.5 mm in length, 2 mm in width,            lanceolate in shape, truncate base, acute apex, entire            margin, color of inner and outer surfaces when opening and            fully open; 1B, glabrous on both surfaces.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—12, stigma; 1 mm in length and 1B in color, style;            3 mm in length and 1B in color, ovary; small, single celled            and translucent in color.        -   Stamens.—20, filament; 5 mm in length, 1B in color, anther;            1 mm in length and 1A in color, pollen is moderate in            quantity.        -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of xSemponium plant named ‘Diamond’ as described and illustrated herein. 